Bell at his best to take national title

Defending champion pushed into second spot

Tom Bell has claimed victory in the British Cycling National Mountain Bike Marathon Championships.

He won yesterday’s (Sunday) event, held in the Island for the first time over a 100 kilometre route, holding off defending champion and End-2-End winner Ben Thomas by 18 seconds.

Bell’s final time – five hours, 16 minutes exactly.

Three Peaks winner Paul Oldham took third spot in the endurance race.

Amy Stouter was the clear winner of the women’s event – completing the course in a time of seven hours, eight minutes and 19 seconds.

Emma Atkinson was the leading local in fourth spot – 7.55.43 her time.

In the other categories, Ben Wadey and Gilly Hewlett were the winners in the 100km Manx open.

Steve Hardie and James Kermode in the veterans and grand veterans, Ian Kelly and Emily Looker in the 50k.

Philip Simcock was the winner of the Manx 100 mile class with Terry Edleston and Elizabeth Adams the leading performers up to 100km.